Moistening device for duplicating machines



Jan. 16, 1962 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,016,822

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1959 454/14) mlhr make,

Jan. 16, 1962 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,016,822

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Sept. 1'7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [warrior 4/,- m lZ-zz d by: Atlas C fim'k Anna 3,@lfi,822 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 Line 3,i 16,822 MOETENIN'G DEVICE EUR DUPLHCATING MACHINES Wilhelm Ritzerfeid, Sehorlemer Allen M, BcrlindDahlem, Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Str. 21, Eerlin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Sept. 17, 1959, filer. No. 840,644 Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 23, 1953 4 Claims. (Ql. 101-1325) The present invention relates to a moistening device for duplicating machines, and more particularly to a moistening device for a rotary duplicating machine of the type in which selected spaced portions of a master sheet are printed in adjacent positions on moistened copy sheets. The present invention may be advantageously applied to all kinds of duplicating machines, including rotary duplicating machines of the flat bed type, and rotary duplicating machines including a pair of rollers for printing entire pages, or selected lines and sections.

in known duplicating machines, the known moistening devices are insuflicient for moistening the copy sheets when the machine is very fast operated, for example at 120 to 150 revolutions per minute. Felt pads are generally used for moistening the copy sheets, and it is not possible to pass suflicient liquid through the capillary passages of the felt pad to obtain suificient moisture on the copy sheets when the same are transported at very high speed. In constructions employing moistening rollers, only a limited surface film of moisture can be applied which cannot be increased above a certain amount of moisture due to the adhesion of the moistening rollers. T herefore, moistening rollers are incapable of applying the amount of moisture required on copy sheets when the machine is operated at high speed.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved moistening device which is capable of supplying a sufficient amount of liquid to copy sheets in a duplicating machine to permit operation at high speed.

In duplicating machines of the type in which selected portions of the master sheet, which are spaced from each other on the master sheet, are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet, the copy sheet is not transported while the printing roller rotates to bring the next following selected portion of the master sheet to the printing line. For example, a head portion of the printed text is printed, and then the printing roller turns until a selected line arrives at the printing line, which is again printed on the copy sheet. During the time required for turning of the printing roller with the master sheet from the position in which the head portion of the text is located in the printing line and the position in which the selected line is located in the printing line, the copy sheet is already moistened in the part thereof which is to be imprinted by the selected line portion. Consequently, a part of the liquid on the copy sheet evaporates, or passes into the copy sheet, so that the surface of the copy sheet is insufficiently moistened to produce a clear and dark imprint of the selected line. Consequently, the imprint of the selected line appears pale and weaker than the imprint of the head portion. This is particularly the case if one of the last lines of the master sheet is selected for printing, since in this event the printing roller has to turn through the greatest angle after the printing of the head portion has been carried out.

It is another object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of known duplicating machines of this type, and to provide a moistening device capable of applying a liquid to copy sheets in such a manner that uniform imprints of selected portions of the master sheet are produced on the moistened copy sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 2 in duplicating machines of this type, a moistening device for applying different amounts of liquid to different portions of a copy sheet, so that those portions of the copy sheet which may become dry while waiting for the next following imprint are provided with more liquid than portions which pass through the printing line directly after having been moistened.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a duplicating machine, transporting rollers for transporting copy sheets to a printing position, and to apply a liquid to the transporting roller means so that the same serve also as a moistening means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a duplicating machine inoistening rollers for containuously moistening copy sheets and in addition thereto a moistening pad movable to and from a moistening position slidingly engaging the same copy sheet, so that selected portions of the copy sheet can receive more moistening liquid then other portions.

A further object of the present invention is to move the additional moistening member to and from a position engaging the copy sheet by actuating means which operate in synchronism with the movement of a counter pressure roller which effects the printing of selected portions of a master sheet on a cooperating printing roller.

With these objects in View, the present invention mainly consists in a moistening device provided in a duplicating machine and comprising roller means for engaging copy sheets; means for applying a liquid to the roller means so that the copy sheets are moistened; and a moistening member for slidingly engaging the copy sheets and for applying a liquid to the same. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the roller means area pair of transporting rollers, one of which is moistened by a moistening pad to which liquid is supplied. Preferably, the moistening member which engages the copy sheet, is located opposite the other transporting roller so that the copy sheet is urged by the moistening member against the second transporting roller.

When the moistening device of the present invention is used in a rotary duplicating machine of the type in which a counter pressure roller is moved at selected intervals to and from a printing position for effecting the printing of selected portions of the master sheet on the printing roller, the moistening member is controlled and actuated in synchronism with the counter pressure roller so that only selected portions of the copy sheet are moistened by the moistening member in addition to being moistened by the moistening transporting rollers. The transporting rollers are either driven from the counter pressure roller, or from the printing roller through a one revolution coupling. At least one of the two moistening means is preferably moved to and from a moistening position by cam means secured to the printing roller, so that only selected portions of the copy sheets are moistened by both moistening means. It is also possible to control the moistening device of the present invention in such a manner that the moistening roller is effective to moisten selected portions of the copy sheet, whereas the moistening member is controlled to moisten other selected portions of the copy sheet.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a framentary side View, partially in section, illustrating a rotary duplicating machine according to the present invention including two moistening means; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary developed plan view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the printing roller 1 carries a master sheet 2 having a head section K and 27 line sections 12 to 272. A clamping means 1a holds the master sheet 2 in the correct position. The printing roller 1 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 3 which is rotated by suitable drive means, not shown. A counter pressure roller 4 is mounted on a shaft 5 on pivoted arms 6 mounted for turning movement on a shaft 7. Shaft 7 is supported in the side walls 8 of the machine frame. Cam-follower lever means 9 are connected to arms 6 for turning movement by bolts 9a passing through slots 60! in arms 6 which permit an adjustment.

Roller means 10 are mounted at the end of cam follower means 9, and engage the cam tracks of control cam means 11 associated with the head section K of the master sheet, and of other control cam means 12 respectively associated with the line portions of the master sheet. Cam means 11 and 12 are connected to the printing roller for rotation, but are adjustable in axial and circumferential directions to permit a selection of the line .13 which is to be printed. During rotation of the printing roller, the counter pressure roller t is moved to and from a printing position located in close proximity to the printing roller for obtaining imprints on a head portion K and of selected lines on copy sheets supplied to the plane AB in which the printing line of rollers 1 and 4 is located. This arrangement is known, and not an object of the present invention.

In machines of this type, the copy sheet must be moistened before passing through the printing line. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of transporting rollers 15 and is is provided which are connected for rotation by a pair of gears '17 and 18. The low r transporting roller 15 is driven from counter pressure roller 4 though chain sprockets 36, 37 and chain 38. The upper transporting roller .15 is mounted on pivoted lever arms 15a, and is urged against the lower transporting roller 16 by spring means 19 secured to lever arms 15a and to the frame 8. A container 20 for a liquid holds a moistening pad 21, and is mounted on lever means 20:: which are pivotable on shaft 20b. A leaf spring 22 is secured to the frame of the machine, and abuts on the moistening member 21), 21 to urge the same into a position slidingly engaging the upper transporting roller 15, so that the same transfers the liquid to the copy sheet 14 transported by rollers 15, 16. A lever 20c carrying a roller 20d is secured to a rod 200 extending between lever means Ztla. Roller 26d is in engagement with the printing roller.

A pump, not shown, supplies liquid through pipes 23 and 24 into the container 20 so that an exactly determined amount of moistening liquid is supplied to moistening pad 21 during each revolution of the printing roller 1. Drive means, not shown, rotate the transporting roller means 15 and 16 through member 36, 3'7, 38, 17, 18 so that copy sheet 14 is transported to the printing line in the plane A, B between rollers 1 and i.

A second moistening means is provided in addition to the moistening roller 15, and includes a felt pad 27 mounted in a container 26. Container 26 is turnably mounted on pivot means 28 to which spring means 21 are connected for turning moistening means 26, 27 about shaft 28 into a position tending to engage transporting roller 16, but actually engaging a copy sheet 14 transported by rollers 15, 16. A cam follower lever 30 is connected to container 25, and has a cam follower roller 31 engaging cam means 32, 33 which are secured to the printing roller 1 for rotation therewith, but whose angular position relative to cams 11 and 12 and printing roller 1 can be adjusted by bolts 49 passing through slots in the cams.

The cam tracks of cam means 32 and 33 are so arranged and designed that the rnoistening member 27 is moved to an operative position slidingly engaging the transported copy sheet only when a particular part of the copy sheet 14 passes moistening member 27. A pump, not shown, supplies moistening liquid through pipes 34 and 35 into the container 26 so that the required amount of liquid is supplied to moistening pad 27 during each revolution of the printing roller.

The device operates as follows: During a duplicating operation, the printing roller 1 starts its turning movement with counter pressure roller 4 in retracted position. The transporting roller means 15 and 16 transport the copy sheet 14 to the printing line while the transporting rollers 17 and the moistening pad 27 moisten the copy sheet. The bead portion K of the master sheet 2 passes through the printing line after cam means 11 has moved the mounter pressure roller 4 to its operative printing position so that the head portion K is printed on the copy sheet. Thereupon, the holding means 25 holds the copy sheet stationary, while counter pressure roller 4- is retracted, and printing roller 1 continues its turning movement until a selected line 13 arrives at the printing line. in this moment, the counter pressure roller 4 is again moved to printing position and the selected line '13 is printed on the copy sheet. During the time required by printing roller 1 to turn from the position in which head portion K was in the printing line and the position in which the selected line 13 is in the printing line, the portion of the copy sheets 14 located between the printing line and the rollers 15, 16 is subject to evaporation of the moistening liquid, which also passes from the surface of the copy sheet into the interior thereof. Consequently the imprint produced by the selected line 13 would be weaker, since insufiicient moisture would be present on the surface of the copy sheet to dissolve the ink of the master sheet 2, whereas the head portion K would produce a strong and clear imprint on the freshly moistened copy sheet.

However, due to the fact that the respective portion of the copy sheet is not only moistened by transporting roller 15 but also by the moistening pad 27, a greater amount of moisture is supplied to the respective portion of the copy sheet, and consequently this portion remains sufficiently moist to receive a strong and clear imprint assuring a uniform appearance of the head portion of the line portion on the copy sheet. Cam means 32 and 3% effect retraction of moistening means 26, 27 during passage of a portion of copy sheet 14 which is not held stationary so that moistening by the moistening roller 15 is suflicient.

if desired, moistening member 21, 22 can be moved to a position retracted from moistening roller 15, so that liquid is applied to the copy sheet only by moistening member 27.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of duplicating machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a moistening device including two moistening means for applying an additional amount of duplicating liquid to selected portions of copy sheets, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary duplicating machine comprising, in combination, a printing roller; means for attaching a master sheet to said printing roller; a counterpressure roller movable to and from a duplicating position in close proximity to said printing roller for defining a printing line; control means for moving said counter pressure roller at selected intervals to and from said duplicating position; transporting roller means for transporting copy sheets to said printing line; moistening means for applying a liquid to said transporting roller means so that liquid is transferred to transported copy sheets; a moistening member movable to and from an operative moistening position for slidingly engaging the transported copy sheets and for applying a liquid to the copy sheets; and actuating means for moving said moistening member to and from said inoistening position and being operatively connected to said control means to operate said moistening member in timed relation with said counterpressure roller.

2. A rotary duplicating machine comprising, in combination, a printing roller; means for attaching a master sheet to said printing roller; a counterpressure roller movable to and from a duplicating position in close proximity to said printing roller for defining a printing line; control means for moving said counterpressure roller at selected intervals to and from said duplicating position; transporting roller means including a first transporting roller and a second transporting roller for transporting copy sheets to said printing line; moistening means for applying a liquid to first transporting roller so that liquid is transferred to transported copy sheets; a moistening member movable to and from an operative moistening position located in the region of said second transporting roller for slidingly engaging the side of the copy sheets engaged by said first transporting roller for applying a liquid to the copy sheets; and actuating means for moving said moistening member to and from said moistening position and being operatively connected to said control means to operate said moistening member in timed relation with said counterpressure roller.

3. Duplicating machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means and said actuating means include cam means connected to said printing roller for rotation, and cam follower means operatively connected to said counterpressure roller and to said moistening member, respective ly.

4. Duplicating machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said moistening means includes another moistening mem ber slidingly engaging said first transporting roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,526 Storck Nov. 17, 1936 2,070,684 Ritzerfeld Feb. 16, 1937 2,088,175 Ritzerfeld July 27, 1937 2,088,346 Ritzerfeld July 27, 1937 2,787,211 Brown Apr. 2, 1957 2,787,212 Delpanque Apr. 2, 1957 2,868,117 Ritzerfeld et a1. Jan. 13, 1959 

